8 Ways to Defend Against Zero-Day Attacks

Zero-day attacks are a nightmare scenario for any organization - not because they're common, but because they’re invisible until it’s too late.

By definition, zero-day vulnerabilities are flaws no one knew existed - not developers, not IT teams, not even security experts - until an attacker finds and exploits them.

In a world where software is shipped fast and threats evolve faster, how can you possibly prepare for an attack you can't see coming?

A zero-day attack is the exploitation of a previously unknown software vulnerability.

Zero-day vulnerabilities usually happen when flawed code is released. In a zero-day attack, an attacker finds the vulnerability before the developers notice it and release a patch.

The threat actor then releases malware which uses the flaw to attack the application.

Zero-day attacks are dangerous because no one sees them coming.

Such vulnerabilities can leave organizations open to data breaches, data theft, and other threats.

What are best practices for defending against a zero-day attack?

It may seem like the only way to defend against zero-day attacks is to respond after the fact, but there are many steps development teams can take to reduce the risk of a zero-day vulnerability happening in the first place: 

1. Conduct regular security audits: Implementing regular security audits throughout the development cycle helps identify potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Security audits involve systematic examinations of code and infrastructure to detect weaknesses. By integrating audits into your routine, developers can proactively address issues, reducing the risk of zero-day vulnerabilities.

2. Adopt secure coding practices: Secure coding practices are essential in minimizing potential vulnerabilities. This includes input validation, proper authentication, and authorization controls. Developers should adhere to industry standards and guidelines, such as OWASP's secure coding practices, to mitigate the chances of introducing zero-day vulnerabilities into the codebase.

3. Threat modeling: Threat modeling is a structured approach that helps identify and prioritize potential security threats. By visualizing how an attacker may exploit software, developers can anticipate possible vulnerabilities and address them accordingly. Incorporating threat modeling into the design phase allows for proactive defense strategies to be built from the ground up.

4. Use automated security tools: Humans can make mistakes if they’re conducting manual scans of code. Automated security tools and scanners can assist in identifying vulnerabilities during the coding process. Static (SAST) and dynamic analysis tools (DAST)  automatically inspect code for common security flaws and patterns that could lead to zero-day vulnerabilities. Integrating these tools into the development pipeline ensures continuous monitoring and quick identification of potential threats. Apona, for example, scans code twice as fast as line-level tools and requires less memory, reducing time-to-deployment. 

5. Regular patching and updates: Keeping all software libraries, third-party dependencies, and frameworks up-to-date is crucial. Unpatched software is a common entry point for attackers. Developers should establish a routine to monitor and implement updates or patches promptly, ensuring that their systems are protected against the latest threats.

6. Educate your team: Regular training programs ensure that development teams are aware of the latest security threats and defensive techniques. Security conferences, workshops, and online courses can enhance developers' ability to recognize and defend against potential zero-day threats.

7. Develop an incident response plan: Sometimes, despite your best efforts, zero-day attacks happen. Having a robust incident response plan in place allows for quick action to mitigate damage. This plan should outline steps for containment, eradication, and recovery, as well as communication strategies to inform stakeholders.

8. Develop a security-first culture: Embedding a security-first mindset within the development team is foundational. Encouraging a culture where security is a shared responsibility and integrating security into every stage of the development process can significantly reduce the likelihood of zero-day vulnerabilities.

Fending off zero-day attacks should be a proactive process, not a reactive one. A strong strategy combines a security-first mindset, secure coding practices, and automated scanning.

That's where Apona comes in. Our intelligent suite of testing tools let you build security right into product development, so that you can create secure code fast.

Streamline your security testing with Apona and defend against zero-day attacks today.